Sheet feeding and moistening device



March 17, 1931- J. P. ALDRlcH ET A1.

SHEET FEEDING AND MOISTENING DEVICE Filed July 22, 1929 Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN 1?. ALDRICH AND HOWARD A. MORRIS,` OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE AUTOMAT MODDING & FOLDING COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO Application filed July 22,

This invention relates to sheet feeding mechanism of the type employed in connection With an article Wrapping machine for feeding sheets of relatively thin and flexible material into the path of movement of the articles about which the sheets are Wrapped.

Bars of butter, oleomargarine, and the like, are usually wrapped in sheets of relatively thin and flexible material, such as paper, and two or more of these bars are packaged in a carton. It is found desirable to moisten the sheets on the side next to the bars in order that the sheets will not adhere closely to the bars, so that they may be readily unvvrapped.

An object of this invention is to provide a sheet feeding mechanism With a simple and eiiicient device for supplying liquid,

such as Water, to the sheets prior to the Wrapping operation, and control the operation of the moistening device by the main control of the feeding mechanism. Further objects Will appear as the description proceeds.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying draw ings, in Which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a Wrapping and packaging machine equipped With sheet feeding and severing mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

y Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the control for the sheet moistening device and its relation to the main control for the machine; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional elevation of the control valve for the moistening device.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a frame 1 of a machine for Wrapping and packaging bars of butter, oleo margarine, or the like, only a portion of the machine being shown sufficient to illustrate the invention. The machine is of the Well known type embodying a step-by-step bar feeding mechanism, the bars being advanced along a guide 2, from Which individual bars `are advanced by a ram along a guide way 0 indicated generally by the reference charac- SHEET FEEDING AND MOISTENING DEVICE 1929. Serial N0. 380,022.

ter Rising from the main frame 1 is a sheet feeding and severing mechanism 4, including a pair of opposed feeding rolls 5, sheet severing rolls (3, and draiv-off rolls 7, it being understood that the sheet material S from a supply roll 8 is fed by the rolls 5 between the rolls 6 Where the sheet is severed into segments of the desired proportions and drawn-oli' by the draw-olf rolls 7 into the path of movement of the advancing bars. It Will be seen from Fig. 1 that one of the severing rolls 6 has an axially extending knife adapted to register with and enter a recess in the companion roll for effecting severance. The operation of the rolls 5-6 and 7 forms no part of the present invention, it being suflicient to point out that these rolls are operated through suitable gearing, and power is furnished through a sprocket chain 9. The operation of the chain 9 is suitably controlled from a main control shaft l() having an operating handle 11.

In order to meisten the sheet S, after being severed by the severing rolls G on the side thereof to be engaged by the advancing bar, a tube 12 is disposed above one of the rolls 7, and is positioned parallel to the axis thereof. As shown, the tube 12 is supported by brackets 18 at opposite ends, which are connected by rods 14 to opposite sides of the frame 4l. Projecting from the tube 12 are` a series of nozzles 15 which :incline dow wardly toward the sheet.

Liquid is supplied to the tube 12 from au inlet conduit 16 having a main control valve 17, and interposed in the inlet line is a valve casing 18 having a valve seat 19, on which a valve 2O is adapted to seat. The valve 20 has a depending stem 21, to which a vertically disposed rod 22 is pivoted at 23. The lower end of the rod 22 is pivoted at 24 to an arm 25 fixed to the main operating shaft 10.

The arrangement is such that when the control lever 11 is moved to operate the sheet feeding and severing mechanism the valve 20 is unseated to permit the passage of liquid to the tube 12 and nozzles 15 for supplyin sufficient liquid to the surface of the sheet L as completely to meisten that part which is engaged by the advancing butter bar. Upon manipulation of the handle l1 in the opposite direction to stop the feeding and severing mechanism, it is apparent that the valvefQO Will concomitantly be seated, there by to 'shut olfthe i'oW of liquid. n Y

It is to hev understood that numerous changes in details of construction and arifrangementfmay :be '\eie'etxafd without departw ing "inem ythe spirit of the invention las defined in the appended claim. v

What We claim as new 'and desire'tofseeure by Letters Patent is: In a machine for supplying ymeistened 15 sheets to awrapping machine, .a sheet material supply Lroll, Sheet severing 1neansincluding a pair piopposed rdllsffor enga-:ging the material "therebetween, a pair oi.1 "drawoii rolls vbeneath the 'cutting .rol'ls for 're- 20 Vceiving the severed sheetsfrom the '-/cutting ro'lls and Yfor advancing 'the severed 'sheets downwardly tto the 'Wrappingfmachine 'for engagement With .the article to he wrapped, and sheetmost'ening means disposed loe- 251t'vveen the cutting 'rolls 'and )the .draw-oli' "rolls "for mois'tening the sheets following severance thereof. In testimony whereof YWe have heremnto signed our vnamesto @this specification. 3e Y J "13. ALDRCH. HCWVA'RD A. MGTRRIS. 

